"I'm off. Looks like I need to keep training when I get back."
Shiso sighed softly.
Just one class was enough to show this teacher wasn't easy to get along with. Life from now on would probably be like walking through hell.
Sakumo didn't speak, but tightened his grip on the sword handle. Clearly, he wasn't satisfied with how things turned out today.
"Well, I'm going back to rest. I still need to draw manga. So tiring."
Akaba said while yawning.
"You've got the nerve to say you're tired?"
The two exchanged glances, speechless. Someone who sends Multiple Shadow Clones to do his work probably shouldn't use that word.
Akaba's Multiple Shadow Clone technique was no longer a secret among many clans in Konoha, since the Third Hokage had already announced this skill publicly. However, the risks involved were also clearly communicated long ago.
Besides physical strength and chakra reserves, it required particularly strong mental endurance. Otherwise, one might not withstand the terrible backlash after releasing the Multiple Shadow Clone.
Even if ordinary people learned the Multiple Shadow Clone technique, they'd have to use it cautiously. At least Shiso and Sakumo could only look on enviously.
Back home, Akaba assigned a Multiple Shadow Clone to draw Chapter 7 while he himself lay on the bed resting his eyes.
"The Fire Shadow World really is dangerous. Taking an exam almost got me killed."
Akaba murmured softly.
Right now, all he could see behind his closed eyes was that one sword strike. That was real combat. Compared to that, regular sparring matches were just child's play.
"I was facing just a clone, and even Danzo later on wasn't really that big of a threat."
"I must become stronger!"
I've made up my mind.
Being background decoration? That wasn't Akaba's goal at all.
What he wanted was to become the most dazzling figure among those background characters—just like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha during their battle at the Valley of the End.
"Whatever. Time to get up and draw a few pages."
After struggling upright, Akaba grabbed a brush and started working on some illustrations.
Today was the second day since the manga shop opened, and Sakuma Yunlang had been helping sell comics constantly. As such, another three hundred plus points had been added to his account.
Once Chapter 7 was finished here, he could exchange points for two new ninjutsu techniques—the [Great Fireball Technique] and the [Decapitation Technique].
The next day, at the front of the Hokage Tower.
Shiso and Sakumo waited early, but Akaba never showed up. Half an hour later, they finally saw Akaba's silhouette approaching from down the street.
"It's the first day today, and you're late again."
Shiso felt somewhat helpless.
"I practiced ninjutsu too much last night and overslept a bit."
Akaba yawned.
"Liar."
Sakumo snorted coldly, clearly not buying it.
"It's true."
Akaba helplessly replied. His reputation was firmly set—he could act as hardworking as he wanted, but no one would believe him anymore.
Only late into the previous night did he finish working on Chapter 7 together with his clone. With yesterday's newly accumulated points, he had already exchanged for both the [Great Fireball Technique] and the [Decapitation Technique].
The leftover points were all used to upgrade his mental strength through the Points system.
Name: Sakuma Akaba
Ninja Rank: Elite Genin
Physical Strength: 24 ()
Spiritual Power: 70 ()
Chakra Natures: Yin, Fire, Earth
Equipment: Brush, Sketchpad
Skills:
Five Senses Manipulation, Body Replacement Technique, Shifting Body Technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu, [Narakami no Jutsu], Earth Release: Decapitation Jutsu, Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu
Points: 7
As soon as Akaba acquired the two ninjutsu, he immediately grasped their essence and naturally understood how to manipulate both Fire and Earth natured chakra.
Of course, Akaba had no intention of revealing his mastery of Fire Release techniques.
Fire Release carried immense destructive power; every technique packed overwhelming devastation. At this stage, however, Five Senses Manipulation was more than capable of fulfilling most offensive needs.
The more hidden strengths he held, the higher his chances of survival.
"Everyone's here. You've got a mission."
"Go to this location and defeat whoever you see."
Danzo arrived at the spot, dropped a note, then left using the Shifting Body Technique.
Shiso picked it up. There was a coordinate drawn on the paper, indicating a certain location.
Akaba knew his teammates would definitely handle it—he wasn't interested in getting involved in something he wasn't good at. Sakumo carefully examined the note for a while before saying, "The Forest of Death."
"Let's go."
Shiso activated the Shifting Body Technique and headed toward the Forest of Death.
"What the hell?"
Akaba sighed helplessly. On the very first day, a mission came out of nowhere.
"We've got a mission."
Hatake Sakumo followed close behind, proceeding along the route toward the Forest of Death.
Forest of Death.
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya sat idly in the grass, waiting with nothing to do.
Jiraiya, bored out of his mind, couldn't help but say, "I hope the old geezer isn't late again today?"
"Taking bells from our instructor has always been part of our training tradition. Looks like we won't be able to skip it today either."
Tsunade lay sprawled on the grass, shaking her leg as she spoke.
Orochimaru, who seemed least bored, calmly reading a book, paused slightly before replying, "Not necessarily."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Jiraiya immediately sat up, curiously looking toward Orochimaru—the acknowledged genius of their squad.
"It might take too long to explain to you."
Orochimaru didn't look at him, instead addressing Tsunade directly, "Team 7 completed their test yesterday. Since the teacher still hasn't shown up by now, the bells are probably already gone."
Although these sentences seemed unrelated, Tsunade understood instantly.
"In that case, we might end up facing off against Sakumo's group. Except for Shiso, I've been wanting to punch those other two for a long time."
Her competitive spirit surged, making her blood boil with eagerness to fight all three head-on.
"Just hope the weakest link doesn't slow us down. Otherwise—"
Orochimaru closed his book and sighed softly, "I had my suspicions before, but now I'm sure—they've arrived."
"I'm not a weakest link! Just you wait—I'll take them all down!"
Jiraiya angrily declared and vanished instantly with a flash.
"What an idiot!"
Tsunade froze momentarily before cursing loudly.
"You take Sakumo. I'll deal with Akaba. Watch your back."
Orochimaru's expression turned serious as he immediately rose to dash toward the source of the sound.
"Sakumo's fine with me—I will definitely teach him a lesson!"
Tsunade hesitated for a moment but finally agreed to the decision.
Although unwilling, she had to admit that she currently had no good countermeasures against genjutsu. Perhaps Orochimaru would be more skilled in this area.
Meanwhile, Akaba and his group entered the territory of the Forest of Death.
"Be careful, I sensed chakra."
Akaba said.
Sensing was one of the abilities enhanced by his improved spiritual energy.
The other two nodded in understanding and took a few steps forward. Shiso also felt the presence soon after.
"This idiot."
Sakumo muttered in a flat tone, offering an accurate evaluation of Jiraiya.
"No attempt at hiding his chakra at all. Does he think this is a public bathhouse?"
Akaba slapped his forehead, cringing for Jiraiya. For a ninja like him, even if hidden underground, his presence still stood out as much as a firefly in the night—obvious and glaring.
"Eliminate him first."
Shiso stated emotionlessly and without mercy.
"Can't we give our old classmate a little face?"
"Mission completion is the top priority for ninjas."
Sakumo voiced his agreement with Shiso, leaving Akaba helplessly resigned. It seemed Jiraiya was going to be eliminated early again, just like in the manga.
"Alright then."
The three moved together, not planning to split up.
Of course,
Their actions were aligned, but their reasons were different.
Shiso believed teamwork was most important in battle, while Sakumo focused solely on completing the mission. As for Akaba, he simply didn't want to be alone.
Anyone who'd ever played a game knew going solo meant getting caught fast. Facing one person against two wasn't necessarily a guaranteed capture, but it sure was exhausting either way.
"I really don't wanna play along with the manga plot. These old men and their weird jokes."
Akaba sighed inwardly.
Jiraiya was right ahead. Hopefully he wouldn't pull something reckless on his own.
"Haa!"
Suddenly, a loud shout came from the ground. A figure shot out from below, ambushing Mitashigo Shishio from beneath.
He moved with extreme speed, landing a direct blow on Mitashigo Shishio.
However—
Poof! [Substitution Jutsu]
"How come it's wood? A substitution jutsu! How cunning!"
Jiraiya angrily stomped his foot and turned to flee, but at that moment, Mitashigo Shishio appeared in front, while Sakumo and Akaba flanked him from both sides, forming a triangle completely enclosing Jiraiya's escape routes.
"Jiraiya, I have to say, you're incredibly stupid. It wouldn't be excessive for The Third to send you back to the ninja academy for retakes."
Akaba softly sighed.
"You actually ambushed me? That's low!"
???
Shishio, Sakumo, and Akaba stared blankly. This dude's brain must've short-circuited or something!
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